Exercise Kernow Flag

The Exercise is now underway based on a fictitious war in ‘Kernovia’ - involving Camberland (the baddies), Redruvia, Praa-Sandovia and Helstopia

For the next 10 days there will be 24/7 flying from RNAS CULDROSE

The exercise will get the whole Air Station ready for ‘Carrier Operations’

The scenario…

Today, multiple aircraft have deployed from RNAS Culdrose to the aircraft carrier ‘HMS Seahawk’, as Culdrose Operations Officer, Lt Cdr Craig Whitson-Fay tells us: “RNAS Culdrose personnel and aircraft have today deployed from their Helston base, to the region of Kernovia to the Aircraft Carrier HMS Seahawk. RNAS Culdrose personnel will be lending assistance in particular to Redruvia. Redruvia, is contained within the Kernovian region of Praa-Sandovia. Unfortunately Camberland forces have occupied Praa-Sandovia, leaving Redruvia under a lot of humanitarian pressure. The aircraft carrier HMS Seahawk is in the area, currently in the Loe Sea. The ship has requested RNAS Culdrose personnel and aircrew to deploy to help them to stabilise the area. Helicopters and Fixed Wing aircraft left RNAS Culdrose today. We were ready; this is what we train for.”

Further updates to follow.

Exercise Kernow Flag:

With a new era of Carrier Aviation just around the corner, today RNAS Culdrose has launched the first ever Exercise Kernow Flag to ensure that the Cornish Air Station is ‘Carrier Ready’.

For the next ten days, multiple aircraft will fly from RNAS Culdrose – AKA the aircraft Carrier ‘HMS Seahawk’.

Exercise Kernow Flag is a ten day exercise which aims to prepare Culdrose based Squadrons for operations on-board HMS Queen Elizabeth, build a ‘Carrier Ethos’ across the Air Station and ensure that personnel are ‘Carrier Ready’. The exercise will commence 13 November 2017 and complete on the 23November.

Multiple Royal Navy aircraft are taking part in the exercise. Today Merlin Mk2s, Sea King Mk 7s, Hawk Jets and King Air Avengers took off from Culdrose to simulate the mass deployment of aircraft onto a carrier-based operation. They later landed on the flight deck of ‘HMS Seahawk’ (the replica aircraft carrier flight deck at Culdrose) to simulate a mass embarkation of aircraft onto an aircraft carrier at sea.

The exercise will emulate realistic Carrier Operations; operating Merlin Mk 2, Sea King Mk7 helicopters alongside Fixed Wing aircraft from 736 & 750 Naval Air Squadrons for 10 days of continuous 24/7 operations. Throughout the exercise, participating units will operate in a single and multi-threat environment conducting Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti Surface Warfare, Airborne Surveillance, Search and Rescue and Humanitarian aid missions in day and night conditions.

The exercise will help to regenerate the core skills associated with running an intensive flying programme from a carrier deck. It will test deployed logistics and engineering support and enable RNAS Culdrose to build and grow an ‘Aircraft Carrier’ approach to operations. There will also be the opportunity to conduct trials.

Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain Dan Stembridge ADC said:

“RNAS Culdrose is essential to the delivery of the Nation’s Carrier Strike capability. For us to be able to deliver our part in this, we need to make sure that we have the right skill-sets and mind-sets required for aircraft carrier operations. Exercise Kernow Flag is the perfect way to prove that we are ‘Carrier ready’. It is a ten day exercise, where we will be flying over 600 hours around the clock, in over five different aircraft types. We will be operating with Ships and Submarines and other aircraft in order to prove our carrier abilities. Our Air Station will be operating just like we will do on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. The exercise will test the whole air station from engineering to the supply chain, right up to the front end of flying.”

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